Apple-trimming machine.



Nm 870,137. PATBNTED NOV. 5, 1907 W. SMITH.

APPLE TRIMMING MACHINE.

APE-LIOATION FILED NOV. 6. 1906.

. gvwavitoz memes I UNITED STATES PATENT FICE.

WILLIAM SMITH, OF SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS.

APPLE-TRIMMING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed November 6. 1906- Serial No. 342,202.

ming Machines, of which the following is a specifica-' tion.

My invention has relation to new and useful improvements in apple trimming machines, and has for its object the production of a machine of this character, adapted to trim apples of their skin and decayed parts and render them fit for canning and evaporating purposes.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the specification and claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like characters throughout the several views :Figure 1, is a front elevation of my invention. Fig. 2, is a horizontal section, on line a: x, of that part of my invention employed to remove any skin, or skip, that may be left on an apple after it has been operated on by the blade 12, and bits 9, 10 and 11, of my invention. Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the paring part of my invention, when I use an oblique rod instead of a guide plate. Fig. 4, is a top plan view of my adjustable blade.

My invention is described as follows:The numeral 1, represents an upright frame or standard, which is mounted on a suitable base 2. Said standard is preferably provided with suitably arranged bearing arms 3, 4 and 5. .Iournaled in corresponding perforations in the outer ends of said bearing arms and bearings 6, '7 and 8, secured to the front sides and outer ends of said bearing arms, are the front ends of horizontal bits 9, 10 and 11. The lowermost,- or bit 9, has a shoulder 14, and is for the purpose of peeling off the skin left by the peeling machine on the core ends of the apple. This is accomplished by providing the rear end of said bit with a blade 12. curved to fit the core end of an apple, which blade is adjustably held in position by a set screw 13, or other equivalent means, and placing the core end of the apple on the rear end of said bit 9 and applying its core ends to said blade. The rotation of said bits 9, 10 and 11, is effected by means of a gear or cog wheel 15, rigidly connected on the front end of a horizontal axle or shaft 16, joui'naled to said upright frame or standard 1, between the two lowermost of said bits, and adapted to mesh with pinions 17, of suitable dimensions, adjustably secured on said bits near their front ends. Said shaft 16, is provided at its front end with an ordinary crank handle 18, by means of which rotation is imparted to said gear or cog wheel 15. Said gear or cog wheel may be rotated by suitable pedal power or other means.

Bit number 10, is preferably of spiral or auger-like shape at its rear end, being equipped at that point with a number, preferably four, of cutting edges 19, terminating at a common point. Said edges are of such a thickness and so beveled that they do not cut the sound part of an apple easily, but at the same time readily remove the decayed parts, they being the softer. .This operation is accomplished by effecting the rotation of said bit through the medium of said crank 18, and gear or cog wheel 15, and applying the decayed parts of said apple to said bit. The uppermost, or bit 11, is identical in construction with said bit 10, except it has but three cutting edges, and is somewhat longer. Said bit is employed to remove such small decayed parts from the apple as cannot be reached by said bit 10, and operates in the same manner as bit 10. By the use of said bits 10 and 11, the decayed parts of an apple can be removed without wasting or cutting away as much of tne sound part of the apple as is done through the use of a knife. The use of said bits 10 and 11, to remove the decayed parts of the apple. eliminates all danger of the operator getting cut. By using said blade 12, the skin left on an apple at its core ends, after being operated on by a peeling machine, may be quickly removed without cutting away any of the sound parts of the apple, and without danger of cutting the operator. It will be obvious that the relative rapidity of rotation of said bits 9, 10 and 11, is governed and adjusted exclusively by the sizes of said pinions 17.

The numeral 19, represents the part of my invention employed to remove any skin that may be left on the body of the apple after it has been operated on by a peeling machine, the bits 10 and 11, and the blade 12. Said part 19 is secured to said upright frame or standard by means ofa horizontal arm 20, secured at its front end to said frame or standard, and terminating at its opposite end in a bearing 21. Journaled at its lower end in said bearing 21, is an upright roller 22, working near its lower end through the rear perforated end of a bearing 23, secured to an upright post 24, secured at its lower end to the face of said horizontal arm 20. A guide plate 25, having a rear downwardly tapering edge, is secured at its inner or front part to said upright post 24. Should I find it desirable in the manufacture and use of my invention, I claim the right to dispense with the guide plate 25, and the upper part of post 24, and substitute therefor an oblique guide rod 26, secured in the upper face of said bearing 23. (See Fig. 3.) v

A frame, consisting of upper and lower horizontal beams 27 and 28, respectively, and oblique beam 29, and an upright roller 22 is secured to bearings 21 and 23, the lower end of said roller extending downwardly and pivoted in said bearings 21 and 23. Secured at its ends to said horizontal beams 27 and 28, is a blade supporting beam 30, and vertically and adjustably secured to said beam is a paring blade 32. A coil spring 33, is secured at its upper end to said upright roller 22, between said bearings 21 and 23, wound around said roller at its lower end, and secured in the bearing 21; a stop 34, is secured to the upper face of said horizontal bearing 23, and limits the movement of said frame. 1

After the apple has been operated on by said bits 10 and 11, and said blade 12, it is then adjusted to the said part 19 and bears against the guide plate 25, paring blades 32, and oblique beam 29 this done, the apple is drawn towards the operator, the said frame during 7 said operation being swung backwardly, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2; but when released, said frame is caused to resume its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, by means of the coil spring 33. The purpose of having the guide plate 25, and the guide rod 29, oblique, as shown, is for the purpose of enabling the operator to adjust different sized apples to this part of the machine.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an appl trimming machine, the combination of an upright standard 1; boring bit 9, horizontally journaled in said standard and provided with a shoulder 14 at right angles thereto, near its rear end; a curved blade 12, adjustahly secured to the shoulder of said bit 9; a boring bit 1.0, its rear end terminating in a number of cutting edges 1!),

horizontally journaled in said standard immediately above in said standard above said bits; pinions 17, connected to said bits near-their front ends; a cog wheel 15, journaled near the front side of said standard and adapted to mesh with said pinions, with means for effecting a rotation of said cog wheel; a horizontal arm 20, one end secured to the lower'end of said standard 1, its other forming a bearing 21; a vertical post 24, rising from the upper face of said horizontal arm 20; a rearwardly extending bearing 23, having a vertical perforation in its rear end, and secured at its front end to said vertical post; a vertical roller 22, its lower end journaled in said bearings; a coil spring 33, between said bearings, one end of which is secured to said vertical roller, the other being fastened to bearing 21, adapted to revolve said post; a frame, consisting of upper and lower horizontal beams 27 and 28, connected at their rear ends by an oblique connecting beam 29, their other ends secured to said vertical roller 22; a blade supporting beam 30, its end secured to the' horizontal beams of said frame, and a blade 32, adjustably secured to said blade supporting beam, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

' 2. In an apple trimming device, the combination of an upright standard; boring bits 9, 10 and 11, horizontally journaled in said standard; a shoulder 14, mounted near the rear end of bit 9, and extending at right angles there to; and a curved blade 12, adjustably secured to said shoulder; pinions, rigidly secured on the front ends of said bits, and a drive wheel 15, journaled to said upright and adapted to drive said pinions, said device provided with means for removing any skin or skip that may be left on the apple after having been operated on by saidbits and blade, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM SMITH.

Witnesses J. W. RILEY, M. W. MIRACLE. 

